Ch.268The King has appeared.

Due to the Japanese variety show <Ja Dokkiri> and a tweet from the UFC Heavyweight Champion, Kim Donghu’s hidden camera prank video spread much more widely than expected.

It wasn’t just known worldwide in a general sense. Several famous YouTubers had begun seriously analyzing the situation.

-“This might be even more impressive than when he tied up that light aircraft as Tarzan.”

-“Really?”

-“Of course! That plane had wheels! This time he ripped out a soundproof door with four hinges using just his hands!”

The YouTubers focused especially on the fact that there was no process to weaken the hinges beforehand.

-“Honestly, at this level, he’s basically a gorilla.”

-“A gorilla, you say?”

-“Yes, exactly. And not just any gorilla, but King Kong…?”

-“So the certain thing is that his strength is incredible, right?”

-“Yes, from what I’ve seen… at this level, he’s number one in the world.”

No drug controversy, average weight of just 100kg which is common in the West, but with strength that was beyond comparison.

YouTubers unanimously declared Kim Donghu the strongest man on earth. Perhaps because the trend first started in Japan…

-“Recently, Japanese manga trends have been changing a bit.”

-“That’s right. If before it was all about ‘an ordinary, unremarkable me is loved by a super beautiful girl?!’ kind of feeling…”

-“These days there are a lot of extremely handsome ikemen characters.”

-“You can’t just call them ikemen, most of them are clearly modeled after actor Kim Donghu.”

-“That’s right. Recently, there’s been an increase in Kim Donghu-like… characters. The protagonists are openly displaying alpha male traits.”

Kim Donghu’s influence had spread dramatically into subculture areas. As evident from the YouTubers’ conversations, it started with making protagonists more like Kim Donghu.

“A figurine of me?”

“Yeah, the Musashi version, you know? They’re asking about releasing that.”

“Really? Seriously?”

“And that scene where you rip off the radio booth door? They’ve proposed making a figurine of that too.”

An official figurine collaboration proposal had come to Veritas.

“Alter? Isn’t that an extremely famous company?”

“That’s right, they’re actually the most eager to make you into a figurine.”

“But why…”

“Because you’re as handsome as a manga character, you’re a real-life anime boy.”

It had been a while since he heard Choi Seokho’s flattery. Kim Donghu couldn’t even properly process it and made an extremely awkward expression.

‘Me as a figurine?’

And from the famous figurine company Alter, no less?

“I’ll do it.”

Kim Donghu made a quick decision. With Alter, there was no risk of it turning out strange, and if it actively expanded his image in the subculture world…

‘Maybe I could go beyond the framework of being just an actor and do more diverse things.’

Of course, he was already doing quite a variety of things.

He had competed in the Olympics, worked as a voice actor, appeared on variety shows, and more. He was already involved in diverse activities, but…

‘I want to go further.’

He wasn’t sure what that would be, but one thing was certain—he welcomed anything that would raise his recognition like this.

Besides…

‘If one of the conditions for changing fate is to be recorded in history, then I should definitely do this.’

He remembered that when he changed fate in the past, he had to prevent fate’s interference through achievements worthy of being recorded.

If winning an Olympic gold medal could prevent his parents’ deaths, couldn’t building recognition through things like figurines prevent his own death?

That thought suddenly occurred to him.

Anyway, the decision to produce Kim Donghu figurines was made, and as soon as the announcement was made…

【 So when are they making them? 】

【 Since Musashi comes out in May, probably around then? 】

【 I haven’t even made a pre-order but the site already crashed and I can’t get in; 】

【 I want a Kim Donghu figurine too!!! 】

【 Soon phone stores will be filled with Kim Donghu figurines next to Marvel ones 】

【 Kim Donghu figurinewwwww I want one so badwwwwwww 】

【 Why Alter is <a bastard: they’re making only about 10,000 Kim Donghu figurines as limited editions 】

【 No! My internet is too slow!!! 】

Naturally, the worldwide response was passionate.

>Tarzan, is there any way I could get that figurine separately? I’m sorry, I don’t usually do this, but I want it so badly… I’ll definitely pay regardless of the price

>Is there a separate figurine for the boxing manager? How many are there? Can I possibly get one? Please?

>Senior! Hello! It’s Chisako! >ㅇ<! I really want the figurine ㅠ.ㅠ… Is there any way I could get a limited edition ㅇㅠㅇ!!!!

>Kim Donghu, you’re crazy! A figurine! Can I have one too? Please

>Honey, it’s Jaerin, could I possibly get a figurine as a homecoming gift? Please… I feel like I really need to have it

He received incredibly enthusiastic support from those around him.

>Donghu! How have you been? It’s Edward Park! I really miss you! Haha! By the way, I heard you’re making figurines! I wonder if there will be one of you playing the piano? I know I shouldn’t ask this, but I’m too excited not to! If there’s going to be a Pianist figurine, please let me know! I’ll sell the school if I have to get one!

No, Chairman. You shouldn’t sell the school. Even if it’s private, how could you say such a thing?

Kim Donghu sent a shocked reply to Edward Park, and not long after, he ended up creating something other than figurines.

“Is this really a human body? Not a sculpture?”

It was a torso for Physical 300.

+++++

Early February 2022.

After finishing all his work—end-of-year schedules, beginning-of-year schedules, spending time with family, and enjoying vacations with acquaintances—he moved to send out his schedule again.

The first of these was the torso production.

“Did you say the filming was moved up?”

“Yes, we’re expecting it around mid-March.”

“It must have been difficult coordinating the schedule?”

“Oh, not at all. It’s obviously our job. I’m actually honored that you would say that.”

The reason the filming date was moved up significantly—Netflix said it was due to schedule coordination, but Seokho and I knew the real reason.

‘They probably want to release it within this year.’

Physical 300 was originally scheduled to be released on Netflix six months after the end of filming, which would have been next year.

But given the current flow of events:

Musashi at Cannes in May.

The Pianist on Disney Plus in June.

To match this momentum, they wanted to air Physical 300 around October-November, completing the picture of Cannes and Disney Plus providing movies, and Netflix wrapping up with a variety show.

‘And next year… boxing and MMA.’

MMA wasn’t confirmed yet because the money wasn’t ready, but boxing was fairly well outlined.

The clash between the WBC Heavyweight Champion and the WBA Heavyweight Champion.

I could have done it right away, but the WBA Heavyweight Champion said he needed two years of time.

So the match was tentatively scheduled for around March 2023.

Of course, there could be additional schedule changes, but 2023 was confirmed.

“Ah, it’s cold.”

“I’m sorry. Is it too cold for you?”

“No, it’s just bearable.”

“But your body is really perfect, truly…”

“Thank you.”

Receiving appropriate compliments, the torso production ended rather quickly.

Afterward, I attended a brief pre-meeting and interview for Physical 300, and time flew by until mid-March, the day of the first Physical 300 filming.

++++++

At the Physical 300 filming location, people were slowly entering according to the pre-voting results.

“Wow, there are so many torsos.”

The pre-made torsos were laid out everywhere, and people simply had to find their own body and go forward—a simple task.

But everyone who entered the filming location, as if by agreement…

“…So this is it.”

“This is insane.”

They all gathered in front of one particular torso, forgetting they were supposed to go to their own, staring blankly at someone’s torso.

“Wow, it’s like the body of a Classic Physique champion.”

“So this is what’s possible without drugs? Is his genetic makeup really that different from ours?”

It was visibly larger at first glance. But it wasn’t just about size.

“It looks like it was sculpted by God.”

Everything was delicately and densely structured.

It was like a work of art created by compressing bold lines, then refining and forging them.

Surely they were all human, but one torso stood out as distinctly different. The participants knew who this torso belonged to.

Even without a name engraved on it.

“So this… is actor Kim Donghu’s physique.”

“Isn’t this cheating? It seems like we already have a winner.”

Kim Donghu’s torso was alone in the center, uniquely receiving light from above.

As if to show that this was ‘the pinnacle of physical form.’ But the participants weren’t discouraged.

With their accumulated efforts, pride, and skills, they were actually inspired by Kim Donghu’s physique.

‘Whatever happens, I’ll win. I must win.’

Just as they were thinking this, people continued to enter one by one.

“Hello.”

When Kim Donghu finally entered, everyone had the same thought simultaneously:

The king has arrived.